It feels good to have the breeze on my face after being cooped up for two weeks in the airless tomb the Resistance calls their headquarters. Talib had come to get us an hour ago telling Kayleb and I that we were needed for a raid. The Resistance needs more horses so now we were slowly crawling up a steep slope just outside the city to the horse paddocks Tamarack’s men own.
Jason signals us to stop while he carries on a couple metres to the side of the stable to peer round the side to check where the guards are. Nodding to Talib and putting up two fingers, indicating the number of guards nearest to us, and then changing it to four as the total in the immediate area. Jason silently moved round the corner and I heard the thump of a body shortly followed by a second being dispatched by Talib. The rest of us follow.
I carefully tread around the bodies. Sneaking up behind a third guard Connor slits his throat and let him sink to the ground. The fourth fights back a little as he has notices his companions are dead but before he can raise the alarm he’s halted by my sword resting lightly against his throat.
“Please, don’t kill me. You could just knock me out and no-one would be the wiser.” He begs, as droplet of sweat forms on his brow.
The dark stirred.
A smile stretches across my face and I readjust my grip on the sword at his throat.
“Please..” his eyes dart behind in the hope of rescue.
The sword at his belly strikes. The soldier drops, his blade clatters to the ground making everyone wince at the sound and freeze to listen intently for any curious guards coming to investigate. When no shouts or footsteps ensue we let out a collective sigh of relief as the life in the soldier’s eyes fades to a glassy stare.
We slide through the stable doors and start saddling up every horse. A few minutes later about fifteen horses are ready to go. Casting a glance at Kayleb to check he’s ready I leap onto a horse and grab another two by their reigns as did the others.
Now the time for caution is gone. The stable doors bang open as Jason leads us thundering down the hill. Shouts of alarm fill the air but fade quickly as we put distance between us and them. I hear Kayleb cry out and shortly after a thump that tells me he’s fallen from his horse. Instantly I stop and turn back, ignoring Jason’s angry yells telling me to leave him.
There was no way I was leaving the only family I had left. I promised I would not leave him and I am not going to go back on my word now. Sliding from the horse I haul Kayleb onto the horse and climb up myself.
The scenery flies by. I have never ridden to fast, my hand never leaving Kayleb unconscious form draped across my lap.
My vision blurred. Memories flash from the first night we spent in the mountain hideout.
I tossed and turned for hours; every time I closed my eyes I saw their deaths over and over again. Hearing footsteps slap against the stone and enter my room, I sat up and saw Kayleb standing by the door.
“Are you awake?” he whispered.
“Yes. What’s wrong?” I questioned as he crossed the room and climbed into the four poster bed next to me.
“ I was afraid…” he trailed off, patiently I waited for him to continue, after a couple minutes of silence he carried on, “ That you had left me and that you would never come back, so I came to check you were still here.”
Pulling into a hug I whispered fiercely into his ear with conviction “I won’t ever leave you, you hear me never.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, I’ll never leave you” I replied.
Slowly we came to a halt. Jason realising we are back turns furiously towards me, yelling words that refuse to form meanings in my head, so I just ignore him which infuriates him more.
Once my feet reach solid ground Jason clutches my shoulder and spins me to face him.
“Don’t ignore me! I’m your commanding officer. You can’t go gallivanting off, following your own rules! You could have gotten us all killed!” he fumes.
“But I didn’t,” I dead pan before turning the inspect Kayleb’s wound.
An arrow protrudes from his back and blood’s slowly seeping through the fabric of his tunic.
Cracks appear in the walls around my heart. The dark stirs.
‘Please don’t leave me, please’ I thought desperately as I begin to lay him on his front in preparation for what I was about to do.
Quickly my fingers grasp the arrow shaft and snap it. I move quickly and robotically because I know if I let myself even consider the possibility that Kayleb might not live, I do not know what I would do.
Bringing my dagger up I cut away Kayleb’s shirt to expose the skin. Next I pull sharply and swiftly, to remove the arrow head. More blood pours from the wound. I breathe sharply smelling the coppery scent of blood wafting up to meet my nose. Then olive coloured hands press against the wound, to stem the flow a little. I glance up and meet Talib’s face. I give him a small smile in gratitude and then turning to dig out the bandages in the pouch at my waist.
Focussing on the motions of wrapping the bandages around Kayleb’s body’s the only thing keeping me functioning at this point. Soon it is done.
Turning Kayleb over, I gaze into his unconscious face.
“It’ll be alright.” Talib said in an attempt to comfort me and for the first time for as long as I can remember I honestly want it to be true.
YOU ARE READING
Discovering Freedom
Fantasi12 year Tamarack has conquered and ruled the country with an iron fist. For 12 years Kyra has hidden. Now she's had enough of his terrible reign. She leaves the stone hallways within the mountains and embarks on her fight for freedom for her country...
